Meth Research Paper

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that affects the Central Nervous System and targets the sympathetic system. Meth can be administered by intranasal or oral use, intravenously, and can also be smoked. Depending on the route of administration the time it takes to affect the body will vary. Eventually the drug gets distributed to the rest of the body via the bloodstream. This stimulant, when abused, can wreak havoc on the brain and body because it increases the synaptic levels of dopamine, serotonin (5-HT), and norepinephrine and has adrenergic agonist effects. It affects the entire body through the loss of hair, to irregular heartbeat, and finally to involuntary muscle spasms. Meth is metabolized through the liver and excreted with the use of the kidneys. The half-life of the drug ranges from 6.4 to 15 hours. When someone uses a drug the drug hijacks the reward-reinforcement pathway. Our old brain which contains our “Go” switch becomes overactive that, along with a decreased or nonexistent “Stop” switch that exists in the new brain, tells us to keep taking more of the drug. This is what leads to craving and develops into an addiction. …show more content…
The drug affects the Central Nervous System (CNS) by increasing the synaptic levels of dopamine, serotonin (5-HT), and norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is part of the sympathetic portion of the CNS. Methamphetamine mimics the action of the sympathetic system which is also responsible for suppressing the appetite, alerting and locomotor effects. Dopamine also stimulates locomotor effects, causes psychosis, and perception disturbances. Finally 5HT is responsible for delusions and psychosis as well. Methamphetamine affects the entire